Let’s give an example: Lukas is the living proof that it’s possible to combine one’s favorite hobby and one’s job perfectly. He has been a shaper for three years now and has become a valuable member of the QParks Crew. Born in Northern Germany, he first couldn’t imagine gaining a professional foothold in the winter sports business. After all, his time in the mountains was limited to a few days of vacation per year. But then he heard about the Shape Academy. Now, he spends his winter creating sick shred features, shaping kickers and building creative jib-obstacles. And of course, there’s plenty of time to take some laps in the park and pursue his passion: shredding! “I’m basically building my own playground!“, Lukas describes his job. “Of course, it’s a lot of work and sometimes it gets really exhausting. But the fact that I can spend the day on the mountain, together with a like-minded crew and knowing, that I can earn money with my favorite hobby, makes up for all the hard times.”

But you don’t necessarily have to be a genuine freestyle enthusiast like Lukas, to become a part of the Shape Academy. After all, there’s a huge spectrum of winter sports facilities like the Funslopes, the Funcross and the structurally challenging Snowcastles, which are built and maintained by the Shape Academy. And sometimes it’s just the calm beauty of the mountains or the fact to have “the most beautiful workplace in the world”, that makes you choose this job, like Sabrina – Project Manager in a Funslope – explains. “I just couldn’t imagine sitting in a cubicle every day. I just wanted to go outside! So, I decided to take a timeout from my old job. Now I spend my days in the outdoor office – and there’s nothing that could possibly match up to that!” While talking about her dream job, she watches the sun set behind the majestic mountains. Yes, that’s part of the shaper life, too!

Even all those, crazy about heavy machinery and technical stuff can find their ideal job at the Shape Academy – namely in the cockpit of a snowcat. The men (and women!) in their PRINOTH snow groomers are the true heroes of the night. They are the ones who push huge amounts of snow and help bring the park in perfect shape. Without them, it would be impossible to build a snowpark for example. “It’s not just required to have an eye for the details, it’s also necessary to bring along some skills and to be willing to learn.” Roland knows what he’s talking about. It’s already his 10th season with the Shape Academy. Since then, a lot has happened for Roli. Now, he’s Head Operator and responsible for the training of the next generation of snowcat operators. Furthermore, he has become Regional Manager and coordinates several projects within the Shape Academy. Therefore, he’s a paramount example that the Shape Academy also provides unique career opportunities in the winter sports business.

If you also want to turn your passion into your profession, join the Shape Academy! For more information and the official online application form, please visit www.shape-academy.com.